Different cultural organisations observed national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s 41st death anniversary through special programmes on Sunday.Nazrul Institute, Bangla Academy, Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre and others held programmes at different venues across the capital marking the occasion.Nazrul Institute held a programme at the main auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum in the evening. Noted Nazrul singers Fatema-tuz-Zohra, Ferdous Ara and Lina Taposhi Khan received the prestigious Nazrul Award 2016 at the programme. Cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor handed over the awards. Each recipient received a crest, Tk 1,00,000 and a certificate. Secretary of cultural affairs ministry Ibraheem Hossain Khan and trustee board chairman of Nazrul Institute professor emeritus Rafiqul Islam, among others, were present at the event.Noted poet Mohammad Nurul Huda and teacher of Asansol Kazi Nazrul Islam University Monalisa Das spoke on life and works of Nazrul at the programme. Executive director of the institute Mohammad Abdur Razzak Bhuiyan delivered the welcome speech on the occasion.The speakers said Nazrul’s creations have inspired the people to protest at anomalies and rise up against oppressors.Following the awards programme artistes of Nazrul Institute entertained the audience by presenting popular songs of Kazi Nazrul Islam.Bangla academy organised a programme at Kabi Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room on Sunday afternoon. Professor of Bangla department of Dhaka University Soumitra Shekher delivered a lecture titled ‘Nazrul: Sampritir Sandhan (Nazrul: in search of harmony)’ at the programme, which was presided over by professor emeritus Serajul Islam Chowdhury. Director general of the academy Shamsuzzaman Khan delivered the welcome speech at the programme.Shamsuzzamn Khan said the world is observing 100 years of Russian Revolution and Kazi Nazrul Islam was very much inspired by the 1917 mass uprising in Russia.Soumitra Shekher said in today’s restless world, which is being torn apart by racism and hatred, people need to read Nazrul’s works because Nazrul wrote about communal harmony and taught us not to discriminate between people. ‘Nazrul was truly a secular poet who wrote about equality and communal harmony,’ said Soumitra Shekher.IGCC organised a solo musical soiree featuring Nazrul’s songs at Kabi Sufia Kamal Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum on Saturday. Noted Nazrul singer Chhanda Chakraborty presented timeless songs penned by the national poet at the programme.She began her performance singing the evergreen song Mrityu Nai Nai Dukkho. Next she presented songs like Amai Nohe Go Bhalobaso, Gogone Pobone Aji, Sedin Chilo Ki Godhuli, Amar Hate Kali, Amar Jokhon Path Furabe and Tomarei Ami Chahiachi at the programme.